Domain Name Policy

Oregon State University has been assigned the Class B block of IP addresses 128.193.0.0 - 128.193.255.255 by the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). In addition Oregon State University has registered the following Internet Domain Names with the InterNIC:

Oregon State University is responsible for managing all of these assignments. There is no association between our assigned block of IP addresses and our registered domain names other than associations that we make using Domain Name Service.

2. Domain Name Service

The Network Engineering Team (NET) is responsible for implementing and/or delegating Domain Name Service (DNS) for ALL systems connected to the campus network, and for coordinating this service with other campus units. DNS provides mapping between domain names and their IP addresses used for routing of network traffic to all destinations.

3. 3rd Level Domain Names

A 3rd level domain name is that portion of the name immediately preceding OSU's registered domain name. OSU departments, programs and approved activities are eligible to use OREGONSTATE.EDU domain names upon request to the Network Engineering Team. This request must be from a dean or department head and will either be approved by the IS OSU Domain Name Review Committee or forwarded to the Associate Provost for Information Services for consideration. REQUESTS should be made to Network Engineering.

Typically, a department or organization would apply for a 3rd level domain name which implies its name or function as in the examples below.

Unit Domain

a college: engr.OREGONSTATE.EDU

a program: smile.OREGONSTATE.EDU

a team: net.OREGONSTATE.EDU

a server: ftp.OREGONSTATE.EDU

In general, workstations and server names should be at the 4th level, behind a 3rd level domain name, in which case consultation with NET is unnecessary. To be considered for a 3rd level name a server would need to be of global interest to the Oregon State University community. Example: ftp.OREGONSTATE.EDU

Network administrators may assign/create additional subdomains, aliases (using CNAMES), or machine names behind their own 3rd level domain name, again without the need to consult NET. For example:

machine name rex.NWS.OREGONSTATE.EDU

subdomain NWREC.AES.OREGONSTATE.EDU

alias beasley.UCS.ORST.EDU

4. Non-OSU registered Domain Names

All domain names pointing to OSU network addresses (IP space) must be approved by the IS Domain Name Committee and maintained by Network Engineering. To be considered, a "non-OSU registered" domain name must be requested by a dean or department head, be consistent with the OSU Acceptable Use Policy (OSU AUP), and it must be demonstrated why the requested name should not be within OSU registered domain name space (i.e. OREGONSTATE.EDU).

Domain names used as aliases to content provided entirely by OSU may be approved only on the condition that the URL is rewritten to reflect an OREGONSTATE.EDU domain name. For example, a hostname like project.org might be approved on the condition that when visitors put http://project.org into their browser, the URL is rewritten to http://oregonstate.edu/project

Requests should be sent to Network Engineering and will either be approved by said committee or forwarded to the Vice Provost for Information Services for consideration.

In all cases, departmental workstations and servers on OSU's network will be registered in the department's domain. This is reflected in the DNS registration of the IP address, otherwise known as a DNS "A Record". This assures that network administrators can always determine at least what organization/department claims responsibility for that machine. These machines may then be assigned approved aliases using CNAMES, as in the following examples.

The creation of domain names by NET is done free of charge. However, other services associated with a name, such as web server or web page hosting, may not be free. These services are available on a cost recovery basis from IS (Central Web Services) and possibly other departments.

6. Naming Conflicts and Priority

Domain names are generally available on a first-come, first-served basis. In cases where a desired name or alias/CNAME is already taken, NET can explain the options. NET surveys the database regularly to avoid naming conflicts and preserve the OSU AUP and otherwise protect the interests of Oregon State University.

7. Unacceptable Domain Names

The Oregon State University network is for instruction and research use only, as indicated by the OREGONSTATE.EDU domain name suffix. In general, other suffixes such as ".com", ".net", etc., are not acceptable for OSU domain names. Requests for inappropriate domain names - names that are not consistent with OSU's mission and the OSU AUP - will be not be approved.

Reasons for rejecting applications for 3rd level domain names include but are not limited to the following.

If in the opinion of the Domain Name Review Committee:

The implied scope of the name exceeds the intended use of the name as indicated in the Domain Name Application.

The requested name would generally be considered vulgar or offensive or would reflect poorly on Oregon State University.

The proposed activity to which the requested name would be attached would violate the Oregon State University network AUP.

Individuals and groups wishing to host servers, websites or networks that are outside the scope of the OSU acceptable use policy will be required to obtain Internet service and Domain Name Service from a local or national Internet Service Provider (ISP).

8. Exceptions

Unusual name requests, circumstances, and issues will be referred to the Director of Network Engineering and/or the IS Management Group for further consideration, as appropriate. Final determination will be subject to the approval of the Associate Provost for Information Services. Decisions of the Domain Name Review Committee may be appealed to the Vice Provost for Information Services.

9. Problem Resolution

In cases where faculty and staff are involved in creating or hosting an unacceptable domain name on a system that uses an OSU IP address, NET will first contact the individual and attempt to resolve the issue directly.

If this fails, the Department head and the Director of Network Engineering will be notified. When undergraduate or graduate students are involved, whether on the residence halls network or elsewhere, the responsible manager will contact the student first to attempt to resolve the issue. Failing this, the student will be referred to the office of Student Affairs and the Director of Network Engineering (Shay Dakan) will be notified.

11. OSU Recourse

If issues are not resolved in a timely fashion, NET is authorized to

a) remove the inappropriate domain name or alias/CNAME b) filter the system's IP address or c) disconnect the system from the network,

depending upon the nature and severity of the problem. Notice of any such action will be provided to the responsible parties and units, as well as to the Information Services Management Group.